Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this very important matter. On many occasions in this House and at Oireachtas committee meetings I have highlighted the need for further investigation into the bombing at Belturbet on 28 December 1972. Sadly, two teenagers, Geraldine O'Reilly and Paddy Stanley, lost their lives due to that heinous crime and many others were injured as well. Nobody has ever been brought to justice for these murders.

A full, thorough and comprehensive investigation of this atrocity is needed in Northern Ireland. The bomb that had such devastating consequences was brought across the Border from County Fermanagh. Every possible avenue of investigation needs to bring to justice the perpetrators of this horrendous crime.

At oral questions for the Minister for Justice on 10 September, I referenced the detailed report by assistant professor Dr. Edward Burke of the University of Nottingham on the activities of loyalist paramilitaries, particularly in Cavan and Monaghan. It is clear there was collusion between some British state forces and loyalist paramilitaries in their attacks in Cavan and Monaghan. I compliment "RTÉ Investigates" on the recent excellent documentary on the events concerning that fatal night in Belturbet. That programme has quite rightly won widespread acclaim.

The O'Reilly and Stanley families, whom I know very well, have always been so dignified and gracious but they continue to suffer a great deal due to the cruel loss of their loved ones. The least they deserve is to get the truth about the identity of those people involved with planning and carrying out that bombing.

The very important publication, Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles, references the reliable sources who attribute this bombing to the Ulster Volunteer Force, UVF. So much has been known over the years but, very regrettably due to lack of co-operation and a thorough investigation in Northern Ireland, no prosecutions have followed.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak to this matter. I was born in 1967 and as a child of the Troubles, although indirectly, I am very much aware of their impact on our country. I remember various and major atrocities as they occurred during my lifetime, whether they were at Dublin, Monaghan, Warrenpoint, Birmingham, Enniskillen or Omagh. These atrocities had an impact on our people and their psyche and they led many people to take up arms as well. There was destruction, mayhem and killing of innocent people or shattering of the lives of those left behind. I honestly never envisaged in those times that there would be a resolution or solution but thanks to the patriotism afforded to us by the likes of Hume and his initiative with Adams, along with Haughey, Reynolds, Major, Ahern, Blair, Trimble and Bruton, among others, peace was eventually brokered.

This was a magnificent achievement in our lifetime, a solution in the form of the Downing Street Declaration and the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. There was buy-in by the American people and representatives, along with Europe and the Irish people. We have seen the peace dividend that came as a result and our island's ability since to attract business, tourism and, despite the pressures that exist because of Brexit, there is a willingness on an all-island basis to respond in a positive economic way.

There are provisions in the Good Friday Agreement to allow governments to pursue the island's interest. There is the prospect of a conventional government in time, a border poll and conventional politics and representation as we know it as a result. However, there is something left unresolved, including the unsolved or brushed away atrocities associated with those Troubles. These include Martin Finucane, Paul Quinn, the McAnespies of Aughnacloy or Robert McCartney in a Belfast pub, not to mention the disappeared.

Last night's programme highlighted another atrocity that had an impact on the lives of innocents and townspeople of my own. Last weekend we heard Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen speaking about the extra mile that people need to go to find a solution to the impact of Brexit on our economy, as well as the British and European economies. Nobody talks about the extra yard when miles have been walked by many in achieving the peace we have.

A border poll may be realised along with a united Ireland by all who aspire to it, and we all have the same love for the flag.

It is time that the peace was augmented by the truth commission we have heard about at various times in our recent history. The British forces and those who were responsible on our side of the argument must give a commitment to acknowledging the part they played in these atrocities and allow people like the parents and siblings of Paddy Stanley and the family of Geraldine O'Reilly and many more like them throughout the country to find closure. Unfortunately when we talk about going the extra mile, we must think of the mile those families had to walk from the church to the graveyard, not only to bury the victims of the Belturbet atrocity but also to bury their parents who have died since. They were not afforded the appreciation they deserved. The Government must ensure that a truth and reconciliation commission is part of the process of bringing a finality to the Troubles. It needs to be part of the process and I urge the Government to ensure that it will be.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputies for raising this very important and serious matter. The bombing of Belturbet on 28 December 1972 was an appalling and callous act of violence that claimed the lives of two innocent young people and injured others. The pain and anguish caused was very evident in the television programme broadcast last night as family members recalled the events that took their loved ones away. The dreadful effects of this attack last to this day and the suffering of those who have lost what was most precious to them goes on. That the perpetrators of this atrocity have never been held accountable for their crimes can only compound that sense of loss.

My deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved and injured and it is my firm desire that the perpetrators will face justice and the families find the answers they seek. I know the Deputies and the entire House share this sentiment. As the Deputies will be aware, the Garda authorities have previously advised that the bombing and the murders were comprehensively investigated by An Garda Síochána at the time. The Defence Forces provided expert assistance and the investigation involved close liaison with the authorities in Northern Ireland. Despite every avenue of inquiry being pursued at the time, there was insufficient evidence to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. The investigation into the bombing and the two murders has not been closed and An Garda Síochána will pursue any new evidence or information that is made available. Of course An Garda Síochána would work in close co-operation with the PSNI where that could advance the investigation.

Following the Debate in the House in September, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, arranged for a copy of the academic article referred to by Deputy Smith, which concerned inter alia the Belturbet bombing and information on a potential suspect, to be forwarded to the Garda authorities for attention. The Minister has also requested an update from the Garda authorities on the investigation. I appeal for anybody with any information that may be relevant to this case, even after nearly 50 years, to bring it to the attention of the Garda authorities to aid their investigation.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am very glad he has confirmed that the report I brought to the attention of the House in September has been referred by the Minister for Justice to the Garda authorities for further investigation. Again, I compliment Professor Burke of Nottingham University for his detailed report on the reprehensible activities of loyalist paramilitaries in Ulster, particularly in south Ulster and the counties of Cavan and Monaghan.

The Minister of State quite rightly stated that it is almost 50 years since this atrocity was carried out but as I said to the Taoiseach earlier today, it is never too late to get to the truth. These families, whom I know so well, have always acted with dignity and grace. They fully realise that no matter what prosecution follows, sadly it will not bring Geraldine or Paddy back to life but they want to get the truth about who planned and carried out that bombing. They want to know what sinister forces were involved in co-operating and making it possible for the perpetrators to bring a bomb across the Border into Belturbet on 28 December. We hear about legacy issues in general terms but such issues comprise individuals and families; individuals whose lives were taken away and families who have grieved in the meantime. They also comprise others who suffered injuries due to the terrorism inflicted on this island by so-called republican and loyalist paramilitaries and in some cases, by State forces in Northern Ireland.

I appeal to the Minister of State to impress upon An Garda Síochána the importance of ensuring that every effort is made to give momentum to this investigation. I am very glad that the Taoiseach made a commitment in the House today that he will raise with the British and Northern Irish authorities the absolute need for a full, thorough and comprehensive report into this desperate atrocity that sadly took two young lives and caused injuries to many more. The least that the O'Reilly and Stanley families deserve is the truth about who carried out that bombing, causing them such grief and taking away two young innocent lives.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. Deputy Smith made reference to a report that he sought acknowledgement of, as well as a commitment on the part of the Government to further explore and to raise with the British Government in the context of our aspiration for the truth to emanate from such hard work on the part of many, not least the O'Reilly and Stanley families. The McConvilles, the Stacks in Laois, the Finucanes as well as the Stanleys and O'Reillys deserve some form of resolution. They deserve a process and the further advancement of the magnificent peace we have achieved. They deserve a forum or mechanism to resolve their outstanding issues but to date they have had no success. While we reap the rewards of peace, acknowledge the potential of peace and strive to fulfil the aspirations contained in agreements reached by previous Governments, we must remember that many have lost and many have seen others benefit from the mayhem and murder that was inflicted upon them. I include here the McCabes in Limerick as well as the others I have already mentioned. There must be a means by which we seek and find the truth.

The Irish and British security forces met shortly after the atrocity in Belturbet and agreed to lock away a lot of the information that was available to them until 2057. That was done in the context of the Troubles and the enormous strife of that time but it was not done with the knowledge of the peaceful resolution that has since materialised. It is for that reason that I ask for a renewed effort on the part of both Governments.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Again, I thank Deputies Smith and Cowen for raising this important matter. In looking at how we can move forward, it is important to emphasise that the Garda criminal investigation remains open and any new information or evidence will be thoroughly investigated in Ireland and in Northern Ireland, with the assistance of the PSNI. As I said earlier, the Minister for Justice has sought an update on this case.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to work with the UK Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to address the legacy of the Troubles through the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement framework. Officials in my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs are actively working on this commitment. Indeed, as the subject of the Barron report, the Belturbet bombing is included in the remit of the all-party motions calling on the UK Government to provide access to original documents. The Government is committed to actively pursuing the implementation of these all-party Dáil motions and has consistently raised the issue with the Government. Most recently, the Minister for Foreign Affairs raised the need for progress on this issue directly with the Secretary of State, Mr. Brandon Lewis, when he met him in Belfast in October. As Deputy Smith rightly pointed out, the Taoiseach stated this morning that he would pursue the matter with the British and Northern Irish authorities, recognising that the O'Reilly and Stanley families need closure. They also need to obtain the truth and as Deputy Smith said, it is never too late for that.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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In light of the statements made by the Taoiseach this morning, the statements made in this debate and the fact that the academic paper Deputy Brendan Smith mentioned was referred to An Garda Síochána last September, could I suggest that the Deputies might want to table a question seeking an update on how matters are progressing from the Department and the Garda in a couple of months' time? It might be useful. I know we have gone over time but it was a life and death issue we were debating.